How to care for mimosa pudica at home. Mimosa flower

Mimosa pudica belongs to the legume family from the Dicotyledonous class. The numerous family includes more than 20 thousand species and is divided into three subfamilies, differing in the structure of the flower: caesalaceae, mimosa and mothaceae.

Mimosa: popular plant species

Mimosa leaves contain tactile hairs that detect irritation from the external environment. At the slightest touch, the petioles descend along the stem, the leaves fold, but after 30-60 minutes they take their original shape. At the base of the petioles, the internal osmotic pressure - turgor - instantly changes. The sensitivity threshold in young leaves is lower than in old ones. There are several explanations for this phenomenon:

1. The shy beauty strives to become invisible when her enemies approach.
2. Folds leaves when stressed due to dehydration or cold.

Mimosa pudica seeds can be purchased in the form of a growing kit - Eco-cube. The kit includes 10 seeds, cube-shaped wooden pot, dimensions 8 x 8 x 8 cm, growing mixture, drainage and instructions. Pots are used for germinating seeds.

Varieties of mimosa - Tachi-tina, Campina, Lyrica, can be purchased in specialized stores. The seeds are packaged in bags weighing 0.1 g, and look like flattened peas of dark brown or black color, covered with a dense, glossy shell. In pot culture it grows up to 30 cm, in natural conditions up to 1 m.

Mimosa bashful: what it looks like and when it blooms

A herbaceous plant with finely pinnate leaves. The inflorescence heads are small, spherical, fluffy, in all shades of pink and lilac. The flowers are bisexual and are pollinated in nature by insects. The stamens protrude from the corolla. Height from 30 to 100 cm. Stems are prickly. Used as a greenhouse crop. Blooms in May-June.

The flowering period can last four months. In place of the flower, a pod with up to 8 beans is formed, suitable for propagation by seeds. But before you get the fruits, it is necessary to carry out pollination - transfer pollen from one flower to another with a soft brush. It grows slowly.

Mimosa pudica: growing from seeds (video)

Mimosa pudica: flower care at home

The best place for a “shy bride” (as the flower is called in India) is warm, draft-free, well-lit. A number of straight lines sun rays healthy. During the cold season, the temperature should not be lower than 18º C. Mimosa is watered as the top layer of soil dries. Excessively wet or dry soil is not acceptable. If the pot is spacious, the soil in it will turn sour. Mimosa plants provide constant high air humidity - they are regularly sprayed.

Propagated in spring in February-March by seeds in light, low-acidity soil.

Substrate components:

• garden soil - ¼;
• high peat - ¼;
• river sand - ¼;
• humus from the bark - ¼.

You can add 10% perlite to the finished flower mixture to make it lighter.

Mimosa pudica seeds, like all legumes, have a protective, strong shell. This shell not only protects the embryo from waterlogging, but also prevents seed germination. Before planting, the coating must be destroyed - soaked for several days in warm water or scald with boiling water. You can pierce each bean with a thin needle, after first removing the fruit membrane - a thin husk - from them. The integrity of the shell can also be damaged using small sandpaper or nail files.

Seeds, pre-treated, are germinated under film at 20-25º C:

• the bowl is filled halfway with drainage;
• pour the earth mixture, press it down lightly and level it, leaving 2 cm to the edge of the bowl;
• sow the seeds in moistened soil and cover with a layer of soil proportional to the thickness of the seed;
• the bowl is covered with film, sand or a layer of moss that retains moisture;
• The container is stored in a dark place at a constant temperature.

It is necessary to remove the covering in time to avoid pulling out the sprouts. Shoots may appear on the third day, and sometimes you have to wait two weeks.

Seedlings are planted in pots and then transferred after they have two true leaves.

Transshipment applies to young people herbaceous plants. The advantage of transshipment is that the earthen ball remains intact, the roots are not injured and the development of the plant is not delayed. While during transplantation, the earthen lump is sometimes destroyed up to half, which leads to growth retardation. Transshipment is also safe during flowering.

Mimosa can be propagated stem cuttings spring or summer m:

• choose a strong, healthy, non-flowering shoot, 7-12 cm long, depending on the size of the mother plant;
• below the node, make a cut with a sharp blade;
• Leaves are removed from the bottom of the cutting;
• It is advisable to immerse the lower part of the cutting for a few seconds in a solution of phytohormones;
• make holes in the container using a pencil;
• Place the cutting into the hole and lightly press down the soil.

Some amateur gardeners plant plants of different ages in pots - young seedlings are planted next to the growing bush. At the same time, often a friendly family grows and develops well.

The plant should be replanted if it becomes crowded. If the pot diameter is 25 cm, it is enough to replace upper layer soil by 2 cm. Pruning young plants is not recommended.

Add to water for irrigation liquid fertilizers and feed once every two weeks during active growth. It is advisable to water with soft water - use rainwater or boiled.

Features of growing mimosa pudica (video)

Reasons for the lack of flowering of indoor mimosa

For the formation of flower buds, flowering and fruit ripening, mimosa needs a lot of light.

Mimosa does not bloom or delays flowering and growth if:

• lighting is not intense enough;
• length of daylight hours is not suitable;
• excess minerals;
• exposed to pests (greenhouse aphids, mealybugs);
• dry air;
• the pot is too spacious.

These factors can lead to loss of buds or premature wilting of the inflorescences.

Mimosa pudica does not tolerate irregular watering. Overmoistening of the soil causes yellowing of the leaves, and lack of moisture causes wrinkling and darkening. Does not tolerate drafts, hypothermia and tobacco smoke - it reacts by dropping leaves and delaying flowering. Mimosa is not suitable for the air in houses heated with coal.

It is advisable to place plants in groups that combine flowers that require equal conditions of maintenance.

With an increase in air temperature and light intensity, mimosa's need for water increases. Plants in plastic pots require less watering than those in ceramic pots.

How to increase humidity:

• the plant is sprayed from all sides with a sprinkler, creating a foggy cloud;
• flowers are collected in potted arrangements or gardens, in the center of which the air has high humidity;
• pots of mimosa are placed in a tray filled with pebbles and water.

For normal growth and flowering, mimosa requires 12-16 hours of natural or artificial light per day. On the windowsill, the illumination is 50% of the illumination on the street, 1 m from the window - 25%, 2 m - 25% or less. Appropriate place- window sills of western, eastern and slightly shaded southern windows. This is where mimosa, like everyone else, gets what it needs. flowering plants, a small amount of direct sunlight.

If the plant was purchased in a store, it should be accustomed to light and sunlight in stages - the young leaves are tender and sensitive.

Additional lighting can be created using lamps with a total power of 80 W. Conventional incandescent lamps are not suitable for these purposes, as they create excess heat.

In its homeland, mimosa pudica is used as medicinal plant, and is also a honey plant.

Mimosa pudica, being a perennial, does not live long and does not tolerate winters well - it can expose the trunk or even shed its leaves. Before growing mimosa at home, you must first choose a place in the apartment where the flower will receive enough light and warmth.

How the bashful mimosa blooms (video)

Most often, in practice, at home, mimosa is grown as a beautiful annual. Renew from seeds or cuttings next year.

Mimosa pudica (Latin name “Mimosa Pudica”) is one of the most unusual plants on our planet. This perennial herb is often grown in decorative purposes, because mimosa pudica has unusual flowers, in addition, this plant boasts one curious feature - it hides its leaves at the slightest touch. That is why it got its name. Mimosa pudica is endemic to South and Central America. It was introduced into many other regions several centuries ago, so the plant is considered an invasive species in Tanzania, South and Southeast Asia, and many Pacific islands. It is also considered an invasive species in some parts of Australia, and is considered a dangerous weed in the north and west of Australia. Today, Mimosa pudica can be seen in Nigeria, the Seychelles, Mauritius and East Asia, as well as in the United States, where it grows in Florida, Hawaii, Virginia, Maryland, Puerto Rico, Texas and the Virgin Islands.

It is interesting that due to such a wide distribution, mimosa pudica has many names. Mimosa Pudica was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum, published in 1753. The biologist gave the plant the name "Pudica", which in Latin means "shy" or "hiding", hinting at the reaction of its leaves to the slightest stimulus. Mimosa pudica is also called sensitive plant, modest plant, shameful plant, dormant grass, impatiens, "chuimui". Names for Mimosa pudica that are most common in European languages ​​include "sensitiva" (sensitive) or "dormideira" (roughly translated from Portuguese as "Mole"). Moreover, this is how the plant is called not only in Portugal, but also in Africa, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and the southern part of Brazil. In Spanish-speaking countries, mimosa pudica may be called “moriviví” (Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands), in translation the approximate meaning of this word can be interpreted as “I am dead, I am alive.” But in Costa Rica and other parts of Central America, the name “dormilona” is common ", that is, "sleeping." In Austronesia, the names of Mimosa pudica are more varied: in the Philippines it is called “makahiya”, “maka” means “quite”, and “hiya” means “shy” or “shyness”, while in Tonga the plant is known as “mateloi”. ("false death"), in Indonesia - "Putri Malu" ("shy princess"), "pokok semalu" ("shy plant") in Malaysia, in Sinegal - "Nidi Cumboi" ("sleeping plant"). In Hindi, shy mimosa is called "chhui-MUI" ("that which dies when touched"). In Bengali culture, the herb is known as "lojjaboti" ("shy girl"). In Malayalam, shy mimosa is “thottavaadi” (“weak to the touch”), in Marathi it is “lazalu” (“shy”), and in Tamil “thotta-siningi” (“affects by touch”), in Kannada “muttidare muni” ("indignant at being touched"). Thus, it can be noted that in India alone, Mimosa pudica has a great many names. However, it is noteworthy that almost everywhere the name of the plant reflects its amazing feature - hiding leaves.

As noted earlier, shy mimosa - perennial grass, its stems are straight in young plants, and creeping and long in adult plants. Therefore, as a rule, the bashful mimosa does not grow upward, but spreads along the ground. The stems are thin, branch very rarely, in addition, they are covered with thorns, and the average length reaches one and a half meters. The leaves are bipinnate; they are connected in the stem from ten to twenty pairs. The stalk that holds the inflorescence is pale pink or purple. Flower heads appear from the leaf axils in midsummer. Over time, as the plant gets older, there are more and more flowers. The spherical and ovoid heads from eight to ten millimeters in diameter do not have stamens). Upon closer inspection, you can see that the flower petals are red in their upper part, and below they turn into pink or even lavender color. The fruit of Mimosa pudica consists of clusters connecting from two to eight pods, each one to two centimeters in length. The pods contain pale brown seeds about two and a half millimeters long. Flowers are pollinated by both wind and insects. The seeds also have a hard coating that limits germination.

And yet the most amazing feature of the plant is that it hides its leaves, as if embarrassed. Like whole line In other species of higher plants, mimosa pudica can change the orientation of the leaf, such a movement is called “nyctinastic”. Most often, the leaves close in the dark and open again in the light. Leaves may also close due to other stimuli such as touch, heat, wind or shaking. These types of movements were called "seismonastic". In fact, the seemingly simple folding of leaves, as occurs in mimosa pudica, is due to changes in cellular level. The cells of Mimosa Pudica have single-membrane organelles - vacuoles; they serve as a kind of warehouses where a supply of water is stored. When plants are touched, specific areas on the stem sense the change and stimulate release chemical substances, including potassium ions, which cause water to leave the vacuoles. As a result, the internal pressure in the cell decreases and it disintegrates. All this leads to the closure of the leaf and the disintegration of the leaf petiole. This characteristic is quite common in the "Mimosoideae" subfamily of the legume family. However, it is not known exactly why this trait developed so well in Mimosa pudica. Many scientists believe that in the regions where the plant used to grow, that is, in South and Central America, there are a lot of predators, and the reduction of leaves is used as protection from animals, because in this way the mimosa becomes less noticeable. Another possible explanation is that the sudden movement of the leaves shakes off harmful insects.

Mimosa pudica, belonging to the genus Mimosa, is a beautiful evergreen, which has become widespread as an indoor flower, which attracts genuine interest in its person not only because of its charming charm.

Mimosa pudica: an interesting feature of the plant

Many gardeners grow mimosa as a kind of toy, the external influence of which causes a violent reaction, creating the impression that the mimosa flower is offended by the whole world.

At the slightest touch, the plant instantly folds its leaves along the main vein; the entire leaf falls down along the stem. The bashful mimosa flower (as it is commonly called for its peculiar capricious character) returns to its former cheerful form if no one disturbs it for the next 20 minutes. Mimosa flowers acquire the same unsightly, dull appearance at sunset, straightening up in the morning hours. If a plant is exposed to mechanical stress for a long time, it can weaken and die from unnatural waste of energy.

Description of mimosa bashful

Mimosa is grown as an annual plant; characterized by erect shoots of a reddish color, which can reach a height of 70 cm. Purple-pink mimosa flowers, collected in spherical inflorescences, are located at the ends of the shoots; they are 20 mm in diameter. Each leaf consists of 15-25 pairs of small (3-12 mm long) pinnate leaflets that have an oval-oblong shape. Shoots and cuttings are covered with small whitish hairs and equipped with spines. Long, numerous stamens give the plant a pompom-like appearance.

The plant grows wild in Brazil and tropical America and is moisture-loving. It has a negative attitude towards drafts.

Mimosa: reproduction

Propagated by seeds and cuttings, the efficiency of which is 50%. The most optimal soil composition for mimosa pudica is a mixture of turf soil, peat, humus and sand, taken in equal proportions. It is recommended to add bone meal to the soil mixture, which will make the soil more nutritious. It is recommended to use complex fertilizer for flowering plants as a top dressing.

For the ovary of the seed pods, which are the fruits of the plant, mimosa, an indoor flower, needs pollination, which can be done independently. To do this, use a soft cotton swab or brush to transfer pollen from the stamens of one flower to the pistil of the neighboring one. In nature, pollination is carried out by insects and wind. After pollination, a pod with seeds is formed, which, when fully ripe, must be picked and placed in a paper bag until spring.

Mimosa pudica: sowing seeds

In March-April, the seeds, characterized by a glossy, dense peel and a flattened pea shape, must be separated from the pod, soaked for about an hour, and then sown in furrows. It is necessary to sow shallowly, superficially, lightly compacting planting material, for the germination of which comfortable temperature is 20-26 degrees Celsius.

After sowing, the soil must be moistened and the container covered with a transparent film to create a humid microclimate. The appearance of seedlings can be expected in a week. Once the seedlings reach a height of 5 cm, it is recommended to gradually acclimate them to open street air by opening the film. If there is a lack of moisture, seedlings may shed their leaves.

Young shoots that already have two full leaves need to be planted. Mimosa flowers will delight you with their blooms a few months after sowing.

Care

Caring for mimosa pudica is not difficult. A particular weakness of the plant is its susceptibility to tobacco smoke, which causes the leaves to drop. In favorable conditions, mimosa blooms for 4 months.

It is advisable to provide natural lighting, but without exposure to direct sunlight, in order to prevent mimosa burns. Young mimosa flowers can be planted several in a pot, which overall will give the plant lushness and compactness.

During the growing season (from spring to autumn), the plant needs regular, abundant watering after the top soil layer has dried; in winter it needs to be reduced. To moisten the soil, soft, settled water should be used. Also a factor in successful flower growth is optimal humidity air. To do this, you can place containers of water near the plant or pamper the mimosa with sprays. But it is not the leaves of the plant that need to be moistened (otherwise it will begin to fold them), but the surrounding air.

The main pest of mimosa pudica is spider mite. If this pest is detected, infested areas should be treated with preparations such as Actellik, Sunmite, and Omite. When aphids appear, mimosa needs to be treated with systemic insecticides.

One of the most interesting exotic plants, which gardeners grow at home, can be called bashful mimosa. After all, it’s rare that a flower responds to a person’s touch. But for healthy development he needs to create a favorable environment. This is not difficult to do if you follow a number of home care rules.

Origin and description of Mimosa pudica

Mimosa pudica (lat. Mimosa pudica) is a herbaceous (semi-shrub) plant from the genus Mimosa, which came to us from the tropical forests of South America and has become widespread throughout the world as an exotic flower.

Mimosa pudica is a herbaceous (semi-shrub) plant from South America.

In nature it reaches a height of up to one and a half meters, as ornamental plant can grow up to 30–60 cm. The stem is covered with spines, the seeds ripen in pods, like all representatives of the legume family, and the leaves react to touch and lack of light, folding towards the stem, which causes genuine delight in people observing this effect. In fact, this behavior of the flower is caused by saving moisture and sunlight in conditions of survival in the tropical forest.

This is what this plant looks like in nature

Since this mimosa came to us from countries with a tropical climate, it needs to create conditions similar to the South American tropical nature: sufficient light, high humidity and, of course, warmth. Therefore, it can only be bred in greenhouses or at home.

Photo gallery: shy mimosa grown in a pot

Mimosa bonsai looks unsightly at the beginning of cultivation
But here is the magnificent result of painstaking care. If you create suitable conditions for mimosa, it will bloom even indoors

Important! Mimosa does not tolerate tobacco smoke, and if someone smokes in the house, it can die.

Growing and caring for impatiens at home

While creating necessary conditions Caring for this delicate flower will not cause any difficulties. If you follow the tips below, mimosa will reward you with tender lilac flowers(can bloom 4 months in a row).

Table: how to care for an indoor flower and its leaves

First, let's figure out how to pinch and trim, and then we'll move on to replanting.

Pinching and trimming

To prevent the plant from stretching and producing more new shoots, regularly pinch the tips of the main branches. Carry out the first pinching in early April. Mimosa flowers appear on young shoots, so the more there are, the longer the flowering period. Just don’t overdo it, pinch only the most elongated branches. Pinch back again after the plant has finished flowering so that the plant can produce not one but two shoots by the next season. It is not recommended to severely prune the plant, otherwise the mimosa may die. It is better, if necessary, to place a wooden support and carefully tie it by the trunk. During the dormant period, the flower is not pinched.

Transfer

If the plant continues to grow after winter, but there is not enough space for it, you can transplant it into a larger pot, using the same soil as when planting. To do this, it is advisable to keep a notebook where you need to write down all the nuances of care and your observations. Do not destroy the old clod of earth. If you just bought your first mimosa, find out the composition of the soil in the store.

At home, carry out the transfer and lowering of the plant into a permanent pot with all the soil, press it down, add the soil recommended by the seller, and water it. In winter, the plant is not replanted.

Video: how to prune and replant mimosa

Reproduction of mimosa shy

Ignoring the fact that mimosa is considered perennial plant, flower growers often breed it as an annual, since this delicate flower often dies in winter or loses its appearance, stretching out due to lack of sunlight.
Can be propagated by cuttings or sowing seeds. However, it is preferable to use seeds, because in half the cases the cuttings die. You can get the seeds yourself by artificially pollinating flowers. To do this, transfer pollen from flower to flower using a brush or simply touch one flower to another. The pods are considered ripe when they are completely dry. For the winter, seed material is stored in a paper or fabric bag in the refrigerator.

If you are not confident in your abilities, you can always purchase seeds at flower shops.

How to plant seeds of a shy flower

This is how the leaves of a healthy, young plant look

Problem solving

The main pest of your shy beauty is the spider mite. It can be recognized by small whitish dots on the leaves. Such leaves most often fall off, and if they are lost too much, the plant cannot be saved. A thin web may appear on the flower: at first it covers only the leaves, and then the entire plant. When the first characteristic signs of infection appear, immediately treat the affected area with special preparations. The most popular are Actellik, Sunmite and Omite. Be sure to follow safety precautions!

The plant may also be affected by aphids. In this case, insecticides are used for treatment. These are special preparations for pest control. They differ in toxicity class. Use products with the fourth, lowest class, they are safe for you, your loved ones and pets, for example, Argavertin, Fitoverm. Dilute them according to the attached instructions, spray once. You will see the final result in 3-5 days. If there are still pests left, repeat spraying.

Previously, it was grown mainly in greenhouses, but now mimosa has migrated to apartment window sills. It is difficult to find a more delicate and fragile flower than the bashful mimosa. Caring for her at home cannot be called easy. For growth and flowering you need to create favorable conditions.

Low shrub. In nature - up to one and a half meters, mimosa in a pot grows only 30-40 cm. The flowers are small, spherical in shape, delicate pink-lilac color. Flowering lasts up to 4 months (from June to September). The leaves are bipinnate, the stem is straight with a small number of spines. The entire plant is completely covered with light short hairs.

In the wild it is considered a perennial. As a houseplant, mimosa dies off by winter or simply loses its decorative effect. Therefore, it is grown as a beautiful annual. Pollinated by insects and wind. The fruit is a pod containing beans.

This is interesting! The mimosa's nickname comes from its ability to fold its leaves. It folds the leaves along the central vein and lowers them along the stem at the slightest touch. The same effect is observed from a draft. If within half an hour the irritant no longer bothers her, she opens her leaves again. She lives according to her own rhythm - she folds leaves every 22 hours, regardless of the time of day.

Rules of care

Caring for mimosa is complicated by the fact that the plant requires conditions close to a tropical microclimate.

• Lighting. With mimosa they work according to the principle - the more light, the better. Prefers plenty of light and sun. There is no need to shade - despite their tenderness, the leaves do not get sunburned. With a lack of light, it quickly stretches out and loses its decorative effect. It is recommended to avoid drafts, tobacco smoke, waste during cooking - frequent folding of leaves depletes the plant.
• Temperature. From early spring to late autumn it prefers a stable temperature of 20-24°C. When grown as a perennial, keep it at 16-18°C in winter.
• Humidity. Maintain at 70%. Dry air is detrimental to a flower. High humidity levels are achieved using special air humidifiers and frequent spraying. A pot with a flower is placed on a tray with wet pebbles or bowls of water are placed next to it. In winter, a wet cloth is hung on the radiators, wetting it as it dries.
• Watering. To understand whether mimosa needs water, touch the top layer of soil. If it dries out, it indicates the need for watering. On average, at a temperature of 20-24°C, water at intervals of 2 days. Morning watering with soft water is recommended.
• The soil. The main requirement is loose, well-drained, breathable soil. Simple and good option- a mixture of sand, turf and peat. Expanded clay or large pebbles are used as drainage.
• Feeding.
• Every 15 days during the growing season. Use any mineral complexes for flowering potted crops. The concentration is halved.

Transfer. The flower is most often grown as an annual crop. Transplantation is performed in rare cases. For example, if a pot was initially used that was too small. When transplanting, they try not to disturb the integrity of the earthen coma.

Advice! Mimosa pudica seeds can be obtained from your plant. It is easily pollinated by transferring pollen from one flower to another with a brush or by gently touching the flowers to each other. After successful pollination, a pod will form with flattened black peas—the seeds of the plant. Store the seeds in a paper bag on the refrigerator door.

Reproduction

Mimosa propagation is practiced in only one way - growing from seeds. Fresh seeds have a high germination rate, young seedlings grow quickly. For the first time, seeds are purchased in a specialized store; in subsequent years, planting material from their own plants is used.

Sowing begins in March. The seeds are pre-soaked in warm water for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The soil is watered with phytosporin or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. A box or separate small pots are used as a container for planting. The bottom is filled with expanded clay, soil is poured, and it is moistened. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1 cm. There is no need to compact the soil!

Interesting! It is considered possible to propagate mimosa from cuttings. This is a complex method with low efficiency. Out of 10 cuttings, only one can take root. This method has long been abandoned by both amateurs and professional flower growers. But you can experiment by trying to root the cuttings in water or peat. Using root stimulants will increase the chances of success.

Possible growing problems

Mimosa is a delicate and capricious flower. Problems often arise during cultivation. Most of them are easily eliminated by adjusting care and maintenance.

Major pests

It is rarely affected by pests. The appearance of insects can quickly destroy a flower. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to periodically treat mimosa with small doses of Fitosporin and insecticides. Neighboring ones are checked at the same time houseplants for the presence of pests.

Before you grow mimosa at home, think about whether you have enough time to care for it. This is a delicate flower that requires constant attention.